The State Department wants us to understand that North Korea did not win any kind of PR battle. Even though they launched their missile. Even though the 6-nation interest over North Korea split along predictable lines. Even though the United Nations did jack to stop it or even respond to it.

What, because the iPod did not exactly hit orbit? You still think this is about some communications satellite? Folks, the North Koreans want to show everyone that they can nail South Korea or Japan with nuclear firepower, with no one able to stop it, and they plunked a missile into the Pacific Ocean well beyond the range necessary to annihilate either country. Your Czar would call that a high-five moment for them.

So now what? Well, the United Nations is still set to take action at some point. Soon, maybe. SoS Clinton predicts that the UN will produce a strong resolution eventually.

But what does that mean? Does that mean anything will happen? Ask yourself which scenario is most likely:

• The United Nations will resolve that the North Koreans must be toppled by military force, and that China and Russian are expected to assist in every way or face expulsion and loss of face.
• The United Nations will resolve that North Korea be cordoned off from all sides with multinational forces, particularly with active missile defense systems positioned to strike down any attack from North Korea, until the blockade starves them into total surrender.
• The United Nations will resolve that the actions of North Korea be condemned, with Russia, China, France, and Syria recusing themselves, and that if this ever happens again, the world will look at them with a glare and distasteful clucking of the tongue.

The Czar simply nudges open any history book to see the most likely outcome here.

The Czar of Muscovy

Божію Поспѣшествующею Милостію Мы, Дима Грозный Императоръ и Самодержецъ Всероссiйскiй, цѣсарь Московскiй. The Czar was born in the steppes of Russia in 1267, and was cheated out of total control of all Russia upon the death of Boris Mikhailovich, who replaced Alexander Yaroslav Nevsky in 1263. However, in 1283, our Czar was passed over due to a clerical error and the rule of all Russia went to his second cousin Daniil (Даниил Александрович), whom Czar still resents. As a half-hearted apology, the Czar was awarded control over Muscovy, inconveniently located 5,000 miles away just outside Chicago. He now spends his time seething about this and writing about other stuff that bothers him.